Vehicle body



A. P. BALL 2,45,332

VEHICLE BODY Original .Filed July 17, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

'fiZZerZ A. P. BALL VEHICLE BbDY Original Filed July 17, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 '1 mmvroa, flzieri FB ZZ.

A. P. BALL. 2,43,332

VEHICLE BODY Original Filed July 17, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

HZZerZ 7? Patented Oct. 29, 1946 VEHICLE BODY Albert. P. Ball, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Briggs- Manufacturing Company, Detroit, Mich, acorporation of Michigan Original application July 17, 1939, Serial. No. 284,855. Divided and this application August 2, 1943, Serial No. 496,983

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to vehicle bodies such, for example, as closed automobile bodies of the type having an opening formed in the roof thereof which is controlled by means of a movable or slidable roof panel. This application is a division of my application Serial No. 284,855, filed July 17, 1939, now Patent No. 2,338,225, granted January 4, 1944.

An object of the present invention is to provide a closed vehicle body of the foregoing character with an adjustable roof panel which is supported, guided and controlled in an improved manner, whereby it is possible to attain in a closed vehicle body many of the advantages which were heretofore attainable only in bodies of the open type.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automobile body having a roof which is curved both longitudinally and transversely of the vehicle, and a movable or slidable panel for selectively closing an opening in the roof and for automatically sealing the opening when the slidable panel reaches the end of its closing movement.

Another obiect of the present invention is to provide an improved vehicle body having a slidable panel which is substantially straight and which is guided in a manner to effect the sealing of the panel at a plurality of its side edges by merely moving the panel into closed position and to automatically seal the trailing edge of the movable panel when the panel reaches the-end of its closing movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved vehicle body having a slidable panel, the trailing edge of which is raised or elevated into sealing engagement with a fixed portion of. the roof structure at the end of the closing movement of the panel. v

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved vehicle body having a skylight aperture formed in the roof thereof, a slidable panel for closing and sealing the aperture, an improved guide means fo the panel constructed in such manner that the operation of sliding the panel into closed and open positions is relatively noiseless while at the same time, due to the resilience of the guide means, the panel may be shifted manually with a minimum of efi'ort since variations due to inaccuracies in production or allowable tolerances will be accommodated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vehicle body structure of the foregoing type in which the sliding panel when moved to closed position is raised at its trailing edge to effect a tight-seal and. is also raised at its. oppositeedge so that the panel will be positioned substantially flush with the main roof panel.

Another object of 'the' invention isto provide an improved vehicle body having: a roof structure provided with a skylight aperture and a slidable panel for closing and sealing the aperture, said panel having lever means or the like engageable with a fixed part of the roof structure for automatically raising or elevating: the trailing edge of the panel into engagement with a closed portion of the roof structure at the. end of the. closin movement of the panel.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended: claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like referenc characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig, 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle; body embodying the present invention, the slidable panel being shown in its closed position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective-viewof a drain gutter shown removed from theroof structure.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a view similar toFig. 3 showing the slidable panel in open position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken. substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig; 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view taken, substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1

looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken substantially through lines 1'lof' Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken. substantially along the line 8-8. of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows andshowing modified means for lifting or elevating the slidable panel into sealing engagement withv the. roof structure.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly insection, of the panel lifting or elevating means ,of Fi 8.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig- 6 showing a modified form. of guiding means for the panel.

11. is an. enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section, taken substantially along the line ll-H of Fig. 1 looking in the directionof the arrows and illustrating modified locking means for slidable panel.

Fig. 12- is a top plan view of the slidable panel locking means of Fig. 11.

Before. explaining in detail the, present-1ning practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings there are illustrated certain preferred embodiments of the present invention as applied to an automobile body having a pressed metal roof and a skylight opening or aperture formed therein which is controlled by a movable non-transparent panel, said panel being movable, toward the front of the vehicle for uncovering the roof opening or aperture which is located at the rear of the vehicle body. If desired, however, the body may be constructed so that the movable panel will control an opening or skylight aperture which is located in the front portion of the roof structure.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 to inclusive of the drawings, there is shown a vehicle body having a pressed metal roof structure A provided with a fixed or closed portion or panel B and a movable or slidable panel C which is adapted to close and/or open a skylight opening or aperture D, see Fig. l. The panel B may comprise a seperate metal sheet welded along its edges to the main roof panel A or may be formed as a seamless part thereof. A substantially U- shaped drain gutter or trough E (see Fig. 2) is attached to the roof structure and has two longitudinal portions which extend along opposite longitudinal sides or edges of the opening D and bene'a'th the panel B and, as seen in Figs. 6 and 10, project laterally into the opening to underlie the side'edges of the movable panel C. The legs or longitudinal portionsof the gutter are interconnected b a transverse rear end portion which 'also extends into the skylight opening D, see particularly Figs. 3 and 4, to underlie the leading edge of the movable panel C when the panel is in the closedposition as shown in Fig. 3.

The roof portion B is formed along its rear edge with an upwardly pressed rib l6 extending transversely in the form of an inverted channel and within this channel is secured, as by spot welding. a reinforcing channel strip I1 carrying a strip of compressible sealing material 18, such as sponge rubber, which is preferably cemented in-place within the channel. 'The movable or sliding pressed metal panel C at its front edge, hereinafter referred to also as the trailing edge of the panel, is shaped or pressed to provide a transyersely extending channel or groove which opens :upwardly and carries a compressible Sealing strip .23 similar to the strip l8,.which is also cemented securely within the channel. Secured as by spot welding along the trailing edge of the sliding panel C and at the'underside thereof is a casing member 2| providing anenclosure for an operating shaft, as hereinafter described. As seen in Fig. 10, the side edges of the top wall of the sliding panel C are flanged down at 24, these flanges being provided with return bent flanges adapted to embrace the down bent flanges of a pair of longitudinally extending reinforcing strips 26 which are spot-welded to the underface of the sliding panel 0 along the opposite side edges thereof. Each of the reinforcing strips 26 is formed intermediateits edges with a reinforcing rib. r

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the drain "gutter E comprises longitudinally extending 4 spaced channel members 28 and a transversely extending interconnecting channel 29 at the rear ends of the channels 28 and providing a continuation thereof. The forward ends of the channels 5 28 are closed by plates 28a, and at four points rubher nose sections 30 are attached to the channel members to carry off any water that may find its way into the drain gutter. The drain gutter has a base or bottom wall 3|, see Fig. 6, an inner upstanding flange 32 and an outer upstanding flange 33, the latter having an out-turned flange 34. As seenin Figs. 6., 8 and 10, the portions 33 and 34 of the gutter are attached, as by spot welding, to the adjacent portions 35 and 36 of the fixed or closed portion of the roof structure A. Suitable sealing means S of any conventional type may be provided along the side and rear edges of the sliding panel C above the drain gutter E, such as felt or resilient rubber sealing strips secured to the outer upright wall of the gutter adapted to be tightly engaged by the depending flanging 24 of the sliding panel when it reaches closed position.

In the embodiment of Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive there is located beneath the closed or fixed portion of the roof structure at each longitudinal side thereof a trackway or guideway G, each comprising an inwardly facing channel attached to the flange 32, as by spot welding.

In the foregoing embodiment the sliding panel C carried at its trailing edge a rotatable rod or operating shaft 42 which is housed within the casing or housing 2| and extends transversely therethrough. This shaft, as shown in Fig. 5, is formed in two sections 42, 42 having their inner meeting edges angularly bent and carrying a handle member 44. The outer ends of the shaft sections 42,-as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, carry generally oval shaped cam members 59. It will be seen that each cam member is eccentrical- 1y mounted upon one of the ends of a shaft section.

Referring particularly to Fig. 8, it will be seen that the guideway G at its rear end has an enlarged portion 391; which is formed by upwardly offsetting the rear end of the top flange ofthe guide, It willbe seen that the height of the guideway at this point, beneath the offset 39a, is such as to accommodate the longer dimension of'the cam 50 whereas the height of the guideway between the top and bottomflanges thereof substantially corresponds to the shorter dimension of the cam 50. During the movement of the sliding panel between openand closed positions .the cams 59 at oppositeends of the shaft 42 will travel within the guideways G, eachcam thus travelling in such position withinthe guideway that its longer dimension extends horizontally.

Thus, the rear ortrailing end of the sliding panel C is supported and guided in a longitudinal direction by the cams 50 travelling within the guideways G which are located beneath the fixed'portion 'of the roof along" the opposite longitudinal 'edges' thereof; At the end of the closing movement of the panel Cwhen the cams '50 reach the ofisets 39a the trailing edge of the panel C may be raised by swinging the handle 44! upward- 'ly,'thus rocking the shaft sections 42 and turning the earns 50 to their upright positions as shown in Fig. 3. This movement of the'cams will raise the trailing edge of the sliding panel to the position shown in Fig. 3 in which the edge of the roof opening w'ill be sealed by the rubber strips i8 and 20.

'15 As illustrated particularly in Figs.

a and 6,

the rear or opening edge of the slidable panel C is supported and guided through the medium of track members F mounted within the longitudinal sides of the gutter E. Each track or guide member F may be in the form of an angle strip of Z-shape in cross-section comprising a bottom flange 53 spot welded to the base 3| of the gutter and an upstanding or substantially vertical flange 59 located between the side walls of the gutter. The flange 59 terminates at its upper edge in an inwardly extending guide flange 60.

It will be understood that one such track or guide member F is mounted within each of the longitudinal portions 28 of the drain gutter. Secured to the underside of each of the ribbed reinforcing strips 26 at the rear end of the sliding panel C is a guide block or shoe 6!. Each block 61 has at its outer face a longitudinal slot 62 which embraces the guide flange B9 of the guide F. A pair of leaf springs 63 and E i are located within the guide slot 52. The ends of the springs are fixed to the end faces of the guide block, as shown in Fig. 7, and the springs are bowed inwardly within the slot, so as to engage opposite faces of the guide flange 60. Since the springs are yieldable slightly in a vertical direction they will readily accommodate the contour of the guide flange 60 and provide sufiicient yield or resiliency so that the panel will slide with a minimum of friction.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the roof panels A, B and C are crowned not only transversely but also in a longitudinal direction. When the skylight aperture is to be uncovered the trailing edge of the panel C is lowered and then slid beneath the fixed roof portion B. During this movement the opening edge of the sliding panel is also lowered, this being accomplished by forming the flange 58 of the guide F of increasing depth near the rear end of the roof opening thereby giving to the guide flange 60 a ramp effect as shown at 693a. Thus, the opening edge of the sliding panel moves upwardly into position at the closed position of the panel so as to position itself flush with the adjacent edge of the roof opening while at the same time the trailing edge is also elevated-into sealing relation with the opposite edge of the opening. The longitudinal side edges of the roof opening may converge slightly from front to rear In Fig. 10 there is illustrated a somewhat modifled type of guide means mounted upon the bottom of the sliding panel C for cooperation with the guide tracks F. In this instance, in lieu of the guide shoe 6! and springs 63 and 64, there is provided a guide shoe 65 attached to the edge of the ribbed reinforcing strips 26 adjacent the rear edge of the panel C. Each shoe 65 has a laterally projecting guide portion 655 which underlies a strip 6'! of felt or other suitable compressible material attached to the underside of the guide flange 6E]. After the panel C is slid into open and closed positions the underlying guide portions 66 of the guide shoes 65 will engage the guide strips 3! whereby the rear edge of the panel will be guided in proper manner and held against vertical displacement.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawings a somewhat modified form of locking device for maintaining the movable panel C in closed and sealed position as shown. This device comprises, as shown, preferably a knob or handle 10 secured to a transverse reinforcing plate 69 at the trailing edge of the panel C by means of spacer or washer members H and T2 and a shoulder boltor screw device 13 so that the knob can be rotated or turned relative to the panel C. In this form of the invention the member H which forms a part of the cross rib l6 on'the fixed panel B is extended forwardly of the roof structure at Na and is bent back upon itself in spaced relation at llb to provide a socket for receiving the dog end 15 of a lever i l fixed to the top face of the knob 10 to rotate therewith. It will be understood that when the panel C is slid or moved into closed position with relation to the adjacent edge of the roof portion B by means of the knob ill and the trailing edge of the panel C raised or elevated, as later described in connection with Figs. 8 and 9, the handle may be. rotated to force the end 15 of the lever into the socket formed by the parts Ila and [7b. The lever end I5 and the socket provide, in effect, a camming action to hold the parts together and maintain the movable panel in closed, sealing and locked condition. As illustrated in Fig. 1 1, the upturned flanges of the members i9 and 69 of the movable panel embed themselves in the rubber strip it of the cross rib "5 whereas the downturned edges or flanges of the cross rib l6 likewise embed themselves in the rubber block or'strip 20 to provide a tightly sealed joint.

Referring now particularly to the embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9 there is shown a device for automatically elevating the movable panel C at the end of its closing movement. In these figures a bracket comprising the spaced parts 89 and Bi is secured to the web portion of the member 26 carried by the movable panel C and supports a pivoted pawl or lever member 82, the upper rounded end of which projects through a slot in the member 26 as clearly seen in Fig. 8. The pawl or lever member 82 is journalled between the bracket parts and 8t by a transverse pin or shaft 83 so that the member is permitted a limited oscillatory or rotative movement about the pin iii. In the present instance the web or base SI of the drain gutter E is provided with a stop or abutment which, as shown, is formed from a strip of metal bent upon itself to provide an upstanding loop portion 85 and end portions 81 which are preferably welded together and to the web 3! of the gutter. Immediately in advance of, or to the left in Fig. 9, of the stop or abutment 85, the web 3| is provided with a depressed portion or pocket 3 la which is adapted to receive the nose or lead end 84 of the lifting lever 82. It will be understood that the stop 85 and the ocket or depression 3 la are positioned substantially at a point corresponding to the end of travel or closing movement of the panel C. The normal position of the cam or pawl 83 is shown in broken lines in Fig. 9. When the lead end or noseM of the lever engages in the pocket 3m and contacts the lug or abutment 85, further movement of the panel C will effect a clockwise rotative movement of the pawl so that it will move from its broken line position to its full line or upright position shown in Fig. 9. This movement of the pawl will elevate the trailing edge of the movable panel C so that the sealing means carried thereby will be forced into intimate contact with the adjacent overhanging edge or cross rib- N3 of the panel B. A counterclockwise r reverse movement of the pawl will occur when the panel is moved toward open position, with the nose of the-Cam or pawl riding along the surface of the web 3i. It will be understood that a single lifting lever or pawl 82 is provided adjacent each longitudinal side of the movable panel C. These pawls ride along in the drain gutter until they come into contact with the stops 85 whereupon further movement toward closed position of the panel C efiects the elevation of its trailing edge into sealing engagement with the fixed portion B of the roof structure, as explained above, whereupon the sliding panel may be locked by turning the knob 10.

' It is important to note that these lifting levers or pawls 82 are arranged adjacent the corners of the panel at the trailing edge thereof. Due to this construction it will be seen that when the panel C is shifted to closed position and the levers 82 engage the steps 85, as shown in Fig. 9, lifting forces will be applied to the trailing edge of the panel at the corners thereof. These forces applied at these localities will cause both the trailing edge and the lateral side edges of the panel to be elevated evenly. As a consequence, there is no tendency of the trailing edge to tilt or teeter laterally nor is there any possibility of one corner of the trailing edge raising relatively to the other, such as may occur when the panel is raised only at a point located centrally of the trailing edge.

Thus, considered from one of its broader aspects my invention contemplates providing a motor vehicle having a skylight roof with an aperture therein and a panel movable below the upper plane of said roof to open and to close said aperture selectively, said panel raisable at the end of its closing movement both at its leading and its trailing edges to come substantially into the plane of the upper surface of the roof structure, the rising of said panel at the leading edge being attained gradually and at its trailing edge relatively abruptly.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle body, a fixed roof panel having a skylight opening, a drain panel extending beneath and spaced from said roof panel, transversely spaced longitudinal guides carried by said drain panel, a sliding panel movable longitudinally into and out of position to close said opening and having guide devices adjacent opposite side edges thereof engagingsaid guides for guiding said sliding panel, a pair of swinging members hinged to the trailing edge portion of said sliding panel adjacent opposite corners thereof and depending from the underside thereof, a pair of fixed stops extending upwardly from said drain panel into the path of said members, said swinging members movable automatically into position at the end of the closing movement of the sliding panel to engage said stops and by continued closing movement adapted to be swung in a direction opposite to the direction of closing movement of the sliding panel thereby to impart an upward movement to the trailing edge of the latter and effect sealing engagement thereof with the adjacent edge of said skylight opening.

2. In a, vehicle body, a fixed roof panel having a skylight opening, a drain panel extending beneath and spaced from said roof panel, transversely spaced longitudinal guides carried by said drain panel, a sliding panel movable longitudinally into and out of position to close said opening and having guide devices adjacent opposite side edges thereof engaging said guides for guiding said sliding panel, a pair of swinging members hinged to the trailing edge portion of said sliding panel adjacent opposite corners thereof and depending from the underside thereof, the lower ends of said members normally contacting the bottom of said drain panel and having free sliding engagement therewith, a pair of fixed stops extending upwardly from said drain panel, said swinging members movable automatically into position at the end of the closing movement of the sliding panel to engage said stops and by continued closing movement adapted to be swung in a direction opposite to the direction of closin movement of the sliding panel thereby to impart an upward movement to the trailing edge of the latter and effect sealing engagement thereof with the adjacent edge of said skylight opening.

3. In a vehicle body, a fixed roof panel having a skylight opening, a drain panel extending beneath and spaced from said roof panel, transversely spaced longitudinal guides carried by said drain panel, a sliding panel movable longitudinally into and out of position to close said opening and having guide devices adjacent opposite side edges thereof engaging said guides for guiding said sliding panel, a pair of swingin members hinged to the trailing edge portion of said sliding panel adjacent opposite corners thereof and depending from the underside thereof, a pair of fixed stops extending upwardly from said drain panel, said swinging members movable automatically into position at the end of the closing movement of the sliding panel to engage said stops at the juncture of said stops and the bottom of the drain panel and by continued closing movement adapted to beswung in a direction opposite to the direction of closing movement of the sliding panel thereby to impart an upward movement to the trailing edge of the latter and eifect sealing engagement thereof with the adjacent edge of said skylight opening.

ALBERT P. BALL. 

